Fire-escape.



W. HENSMAN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1916. 1 373,485. Patented July 23,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. HENSMANJ F IRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1916.

Patented July 23, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 52149112221; WWW

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W. HENSMAN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION man FEB. 2a. 1916. Patented July 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WILLIAM HENSMAN, OF SOUTHFIELDS, LONDON, ENGLAND.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23,1918.

Application filed February 23, 1916. Serial No. 79,986.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HnNsMAN, a subject of the King of England, residing at 31 Elborough street, Southfields, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Fire-Escapes, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fire escapes and refers to a device of this description which is so constructed, preferably in connection with a table or some similar article of furniture that it is always at hand and available for use, and is adapted when attached to the sill of a window or in some other analogous or suitable position to form a safe means of escape for persons and means for facilitating the salvage of the contents of the building.

In order that my said invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the draw ings accompanying this specification, in which I Figures 1 to 4 show diagrammatically the details of construction of the device or apparatus, according to one typical form of construction, illustrating the method of unfolding the device.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a table, with my device fitted thereto, the said device being closed.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the table, with the escape open, the device itself and its associated parts being identical in all essens tialdetails with that illustrated in Fig. 5.

- Fig. 7 shows another form of escape, without a table, closed, in side elevation.

Fig. 8 shows the same escape, closed, in front elevation.

Fig. 9 showsthe same escape, open, in front elevation.

Fig. 10 shows the same escape, open, in side elevation.

The same symbols of reference are emplayed to denote similar parts in all the views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4,11 denotes the underside of the top of a table, or a plate or sheet of any suitable material to be screwed or otherwise secured thereto.

The plate or sheet a is furnished with portions 1, 2 and 3, formed or turned up at right angles to the surface of the said plate or sheet a. The portion 1 has hinged to it the sheet a the portion 2 has hinged to it the sheet a while the portion 3 has hinged to it the sheet a The portion 3 projects by the thickness of a sheet beyond the portion 2 and the portion 2 to a similar extent beyond the portion 1.

In this way, taking the unfolded position, as shown at Fig. 4, in order to fold up the device, the sheet a is turned up to come against the table top or sheet a, see Fig. 3; the sheet a is then turned inuntil it rests against the sheet a, see Fig. 2, after which the sheet a is turned in until it rests against the sheet a see Fig. 1: thus completing the folding.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 forms of the apparatus are illustrated embodied under the upper part of a table top, the table being of any suitable dimensions, and if desired, constructed of steel tubing or iron rods for the legs and frame, and covered with wood so to present the ordinary appearance: and the escape apparatus or devicecomprises a series of sheets, plates or flaps constructed and arranged as already described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4..

These sheets plates or flaps are of rigid material, which may be fireproof, or fireproofed, or covered with fireproof material.

They are hinged together and mounted as previously explained and the largest of the sheets a is screwed to or forms parts of the underside of the table top.

When the whole apparatus is folded up it forms a cabinet like device.

The innermost folding sheet a is hinged endwise across one end of the back a, and this sheet, when open at right angles to the back a is adapted to form the bottom or platform of the escape. In the particular form of the device represented, the outer half of this sheet a i she ed so as to form a receptacle for a coil o lowermg rope,

When lowered the sheet a is supported by hinged side brackets, chains or the like or y es 1 119 1. was ar at the lower part of the table legs. The two sheets, a and (0 are hinged vertically to the sides of the sheet a and form the sides of the escape when open.

The side sheets, a and (0 may as an ja le nat e, be r laced by p efea v srod, and placed about two thirds up the length of such rod. e are large hooks attached by linksg to the rods d, one on each-rod, the links being free to slide along the rods cl, and the arms a forming stops fortherlinks when the escape is suspended vertically. "On each. side of the under part of the table top a gateor flap 70 may be arrangeoL-as shownin Fig. 5, which flap is hinged so that it. is forced open by the weight ofthe hookswhen turned out, allowing the 'hooksto. hang freely. V T Y 1 A lowering rope f is roved through an eye attached to a transverse member joining the side rods cl, or to an eye suitably attached 7 underneath the top of the table, so that, as

ameans of escape, a person .may either slide down the rope or be lowered by a second per-' .son from the platform.

it will be seen that when the device is foldedup the whole apparatus resembles a cabinet, the frame and the. hooks are contained in a space,'a fewinchesin depth,under the top of the table, and concealed from view und'er ordinary conditions.

The use of-the apparatus willbe readily understood; a v

Upon an alarm of-fire', the table is turned upside down, withoneend resting on the window. sill; It is heldhorizontally in this position while, the hooks. c are. turned out over the sidesof the inverted top. The table is then pushedhodily out through the window, the hooksengag-ing over the sill, as this operation takesplaoe, and the table, becomes suspended, on end, outside the building with .theslegspointingo ward, The side and :ho tein shf e s of th apparatusxepen out auf- .tematical' y,:,t msj forming a p at rm i "ea creens-pr viding it-once a safe refuge in-Whicha mi edimi h of pe n may ta es Q13: y;.l dders,.fireeseapes or the like, or whence they may slide down the rope to the ground or be lowered in turn bv. her PQ IIS- The lowering rope as the apparatus opens, falls over the edge of the flap a and therefore hangs verticallyfroln a point well out from the face of the building, so as to keep it, as much as possible, clear of flames, heat and smoke coming from any lower window. l

- T heouter edge ofthe platform a may be straight as shown at Figs. 1 to 5, or it may be provided at the outer edge at about'the par-tmarked m, on Fig. 5 with an inwardly 'cut loop orcurve intended to'keep the'ropc f inthe position aboutrthe middle, ofthe outer edge of the said flap. Where]: this arrangementis provided the rope hangs sub 'stantially asshown at Fig. 6, and an analogous arrangement'is provided in the frame having the same function, in the form of the outthe table,randas illustratedFigs. 7 .to 10 inwhich it is furnished with canvas sides and back sheets: on is a rectangular' frame ofan'gle iron. on other. suitable metal, havlng arms at at or near the corners'for holding the rod frame 19 which, from the arm s brought down to meet the angle; ironframe m at th l w r en ..cross end of the rod frame, the bottom sheet Across the lower a is hinged and on the sides of theframe p, the linkscarrying .the hooks are attache'd. At a polntabout'two-thirds up the side rods, the connecting arm q, joii is either rod to-the back, and thus forms a :stop for the l nk of the hook, whenstheqescape bjecomes vertically suspended.

Abo e the on t ng; arms, and on: each .siderod, .an iron swinging bracketfr' is hinged, to which the upper edges of the. canvasj'side's g are secured.-

The platform is supported, when open, by a wirerope or chain 8, led aroundthe two upper corner arms, and having. bothends fastened. to an iron rod h fixed crosswisennder the bend of the platform. The back, sides and bottom arezcovered with ,fireproofed; canvas sheets 57, w sewed to each other and the framework is open. i

When; required fer use, therlewenend of the escape is laid on the window sill, the hooks are dropped, and the whole pushed bodily out through the window, with the same result as when the device is used with the table.

It will be understood that I may modify the device, within the scope of my claims, without departing from the principle of my invention.

l/Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America 1s:-

1. In a fire escape the combination of a back member, hooks for suspending such member, a substantially rectangular sheet of fireproof material hinged in connection with said backing and adapted in one position to fold against the same, and in another position to turn outward and to form a platform, means for supporting the said platform in the open position when the device is in use, and two fireproof side members hinged to the said backing and adapted when the device is closed to fold over the aforesaid member forming the platform and over one another and when the device is opened to form the sides of a shelter, substantially as described.

2. In a fire escape the combination of a backing member, a substantially rectangular framework composed of metal rods connected to said back member, links attached to the sides of the said framework and carrying large hooks, means for stopping the links of the hooks when the escape is suspended vertically, a substantially rectangular sheet of fireproof material hinged in connection with said backing and adapted in one position to fold against the same, and in another position to turn outward and to form a platform, means for supporting the said platform in the open position when the de vice is in use, and two fireproof side members hinged to the said backing and adapted when the device is closed to fold over the aforesaid member forming the platform and over one another and when the device is opened to form the sides of a shelter, substantially as described.

8. In a fire escape, the combination of a table, a back member attached beneath the top of such table, a substantially rectangular framework composed of metal rods connected to said back member, links attached to the sides of the said framework and carrying large hooks, means for stopping the links of the hooks when the escape is suspended vertically, a substantially rectangular sheet of fireproof material hinged in connection with said backing and adapted in one position to fold against the same, and in another position to turn outward and to form a platform, means for supporting the said platform in the open position when the device is in use, and two fireproof side members hinged to the said backing and adapted when the device is closed to fold over the aforesaid member forming the platform and over one another and when the device is opened to form the sides of a shelter, and means of attachment for a lowering rope, substantially as described.

4. In a fire escape the combination of a table, a back member attached beneath the top ofsuch table, a substantially rectangular 7 5 framework composed of metal rods connect ed to the said back member, links attached to the sides of the said framework carrying large hooks, means for stopping the links of the hooks when the escape is suspended vertically, a substantially rectangular sheet of fireproof material hinged in connection with the said backing, and adapted in one posi tion to fold against the same and in another position to turn outward and to form a plat form, a recess in the said platform for the reception of a coil of rope for lowering purposes, means for supporting the said platform in the open position when the device is in use, and two fireproof side members hinged in connection with the sides of the backing and adapted when the device is closed to fold over the aforesaid member forming the platform and over one another and when the device is open to form the sides of a shelter, and means for attaching the lowering rope, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HENSMAN.

Witnesses LILY SIMMONDS, A. H. VIDAL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

